ODU Announces 2014 Men's Soccer Schedule

June 13, 2014
By ODU Athletics

NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University head men’s soccer coach Alan Dawson announced the Monarchs’ 2014 schedule, highlighted by two teams from last year’s NCAA College Cup national semifinals and six NCAA Tournament participants.

The post season opponents include Virginia, North Carolina, VCU, William & Mary, and C-USA Tournament champion Charlotte, and regular season champion, New Mexico. Both Virginia and New Mexico reached the NCAA College Cup national semifinals, last year.

The Monarchs have competed in the NCAA Tournaments each of the last four years and 10 of the last 12 under head coach Alan Dawson. ODU is coming off an 11-6-1 campaign a year ago, as they finished second in the C-USA regular season, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. ODU ranked second in goals per game in C-USA. The Monarchs will return 12 players from last year’s roster including five of their six leading point scorers from the 2013 season.

"This is one of the toughest schedules we have been challenged with in many years. Our non- conference opponents are nationally prominent particularly early in the season,” said Dawson. “We hope that we can navigate through the challenge and be better prepared to compete within our very difficult conference schedule. Old Dominion University has been selected to host the 2014 Conference USA Men's Soccer Championships and we will be very motivated to qualify for the event."

ODU will be challenged early as they open their regular season against in-state rival and 2013 NCAA semifinalist Virginia at Klöckner Stadium on Aug. 29.

Old Dominion will host its 39th annual Stihl Soccer Classic at the ODU Soccer Complex, Sept. 5 and 7 which will include two-time National Champion North Carolina who last won it in 2011, and former CAA rival Northeastern. In a change of format, there will only be one game each day at ODU, the other two games will be played at VCU on the same days.

Following the Stihl Soccer Classic, the Monarchs will play three consecutive games at home against South Florida on Sept. 12, Longwood on Sept. 16, and 2013 CAA semifinalist UNC Wilmington on Sept. 20. ODU will then play at longtime rival VCU, on Sept. 26 in Richmond.

As October begins, the Monarchs will start their 2014 Conference USA schedule with two straight games on the road against Kentucky and Marshall, on Oct. 3 and 8, respectively. The Monarchs return home for consecutive games against FAU on Oct. 11, and defending C-USA Tournament Champion Charlotte on Oct. 18.

The Monarchs play their final non-conference matchup in Williamsburg against William & Mary on Oct. 21. ODU then travels to Albuquerque, NM to take on 2013 NCAA semifinalist New Mexico, on Oct. 25.

ODU will host South Carolina on Oct. 29, before visiting UAB in Birmingham, Ala. on Nov. 1, and close the regular season at the ODU Soccer Complex against FIU, on Nov. 7.

The 2014 C-USA Men's Soccer Championships will be held at the ODU Soccer Complex, on Nov. 12-16.

The Monarchs open the 2014 fall season with two exhibition contests, one at home against Duke on Aug. 16, and then travel to 2013 NCAA participant Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. on Aug. 20.